| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Cathryn |
Electricity socketI don't know where to put this question. I am taking out an old cooker and wondered if I can replace the cooker socket with it's one plug socket, with a double plug socket instead? |
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| Treacodactyl |
If it's in a kitchen all electrical work is covered by building regs or has do be done by an electrician these days.
If you are not having a cooker connected then the cable and fuse wouldn't be appropriate for a couple of normal sockets. |
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| Chez |
Arvo says possibly, so long as you are not over-rating your cable. You need to have someone have a look at the cable and see what it will take. If you are replacing it with a larger cooker, it might draw more power than the existing one - and the cable will get too hot. So you need an electrical person to come and ID the cable, basically - unless you know already 
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| Cathryn |
I'm not replacing it with a cooker (it's not in the kitchen any longer). The socket would possibly be for a fridge and a freezer. I did think that the cable wouldn't be suitable. 
There is one socket already there, would it be safe to use a double plug thingy in it and then plug the fridge and freezer into that? |
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| Cathryn |
Or an extension lead I suppose. 
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| RichardW |
As its
1, not in the kitchen 2, the cable will be more than big enough for the load from two sockets (2 x 13 amps & cookers are 30 amps) 3, you are changing one "socket" for another This should come under the Part P exemption for doing it yourself & is not notifiable. However the only thing you should have a sparkie do is change the 30 amp trip for a lower value (not strictly needed as the trips only protect the cable so its still valid but would be good practice) BUT do check this out as its just my opinion. EDIT TO ADD Its possible that the cooker socket is not protected by the RCD. Please check that its is or again get a sparkie to change it over or poss fit a combined RCD / trip (RCBO?) Richard |
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| Chez |
As Richard says - in that case it should be fine; but do double-check the regs.
You might find that you have trouble getting an 'ordinary' socket box to fit on the thick cable, though, just speaking practically. |
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| sean |
I think that assuming that *any* of the wiring where Cathryn lives is fit for purpose/appropriately rated/fused is a pretty big leap of faith. | ||
| RichardW |
Should be fine as sockets are designed to take two sets of wires (and larger than the old standard of 2.5mm2) as they are normally part of a ring main. You will possibly need to change the back bock if it is a surface mount type but they are only £1. |
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| Chez |
Good point. We aren't talking two-pin plugs here, Cathryn, are we? |
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| RichardW |
Thats the problem with just using the info provided. That said is was "in spec" once. If its as bad as Sean thinks then maybe a full rewire is in order? How old is the install? What colour are the wires? What insulation do they have? Are the lights switches round? |
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| RichardW |
Check out here | ||
| Cathryn |
Fortunately it has been rewired although Jack cannot give me the date even when pressed. It's got a proper fuse box and all. Naturally enough, all the old wires from the last century are still in situ and oh so many things have been built around them.  On balance an extension lead would be a safe enough compromise for time being I think.
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| dpack |
old wires are "interesting"and can present many nasty problems
my advice is get a professional sparky if for freezer a seperate supply from the consumer unit (what you are thinking of )is good ,especially if it is on a seperate overload protected circuit rather than on the same rcd as the lights etc ,if a bulb goes you dont want it tripping the freezer supply if the cable is in good condition ,a big if and best tested with proper meters ,using it for a double socket is fine if both ends are done properly if the wires are one piece at a time done by wally,s brother and some date back to silk in wooden trunking a full rewire is in order a full test with meters should be about £100 iirc live wires over 25 years old invalidate most insurance claims be safe 
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| Cathryn |
Thank you. I will check but it is less than 20 years. I know that much for sure. |